Mid-island members of the VI Section got together for a social ‘walk’ on Sunday, December 21 to celebrate the winter solstice. The weather was looking very showery and the forecast for gusty winds added a sense of foreboding.
Eight hearty walkers showed up at the trailhead of the Lighthouse Country Regional Trail, off Lioness Blvd in Bowser. Together we chose a route that provided the maximum number of puddles and escape routes in case the rain became dreary.
In the end we walked about 10 kilometres through mossy forests, sought mushrooms, all the way to Nile Creek and returned on the “million dollar” trail.
The Regional District of Namaimo has recently upgraded the main trail so that it is level, consistently surfaced with crushed rock and installed a ‘tapping rail’ for walkers who are visually- and balance- impaired.
The sun poked out of the clouds on occasion and we shared cookies, cupcakes and truffles (from Japan!) under dripping trees. We had lunch at the Bowser Coffeehouse as a gang and some ventured over to the Salish Sea Market for a quick look at its artisanal wares.
Given the forecast, we had a much more pleasant time that we had anticipated! Thanks all who came out.
Jane, Ian, Janelle, Rowan, Mag, Andrew, Christine and Carol.
